During Season 5 of RHOC, they started dating. In Season 8, Gretchen planned an over-the-top marriage proposal to Slade, and he accepted! The franchise cut Gretchen loose after that tacky stunt grand romantic gesture. Just getting engaged does not serve as a storyline. Ask newly-demoted Vicki Gunvalson.

During a December 2018 appearance on The Doctors, Gretchenrevealed that she was finally pregnant. The couple had struggled with infertility issues for four years. Slade had his vasectomy reversed and Gretchen went through several cycles of IVF treatments.

In May,Gretchen spoke to Access Hollywood and divulged the meaning of their soon-to-be-born daughter’s name, Skylar Gray. The name is a tribute to Grayson Smiley, Slade’s son, who has been fighting a long battle with brain cancer. I still think that is sweet.

According to US Weekly, the couple’s representative confirmed the arrival of their daughter on July 10. “Skylar Grey is here. They are doing well. They went in about 9 a.m. for a C-section at a hospital in Orange Country.”

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the new mother. Page Six reported thatGretchen revealed on an episode of The Doctors that she suffered from postpartum depression. In the episode, which aired September 26th, Gretchen explained that it wasn’t easy to bond with her daughter right away. “At about six weeks is when I really started to connect with her, five to six weeks. Because she started cooing and she started smiling,” Gretchen shared. “I remember rolling over one morning and I was like, ‘Good morning Skylar Gray,’ and she just lit up, and I was like ‘Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! She’s real!’” Gretchen said with a laugh.

“At the very beginning, all you’re doing is breastfeeding. You feel like a milk machine, and, like, she’s not really responding much,” Gretchen remarked. “She just cries because she wants milk … so now, it’s so special, and we literally just sit there every night and we thank the Lord for this wonderful blessing.” Slade, who appeared along with Gretchen, added “It’s a little surreal ‘cause it’s was such a long journey, but it truly has been an incredible blessing.”

Gretchen also gave an update on how she is feeling right now. “So, thank goodness-I’m doing so much better. I feel a million times better,” she said. I just hope that Gretchen wasn’t expecting a balloon bouquet or flowers from Tamra Judge or Vicki.